Comfort Magazine
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Le Magazine Comfort

Augusta, Maine

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The Museum in the Streets

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Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., July 30, 2017

1. Comfort Magazine / Le Magazine Comfort Marker

In July 1895, the first color issue of Comfort rolled off the presses to be sent nationwide to over a million subscribers. W. H. Gannett established his phenomenally successful magazine (1888-1942) to promote Giant Oxien, his patented nerve tonic for women. Comfort was one of many magazines printed in Augusta from 1869 to 1942, a period when Augusta was called the "mail order magazine capital" of the country. Overall production reached nearly three million at one point. Comfort offered rural women access to goods unavailable otherwise, and circulation was high because they received premiums for getting others to subscribe. Gannett's publishing firm was housed at 20-26 Willow Street for many years. By the 1980s, the old buildings were demolished to make way for new housing.

En juillet 1895, le premier numéro en couleur du magazine Comfort fut imprimé pour une distribution nationale à plus d'un million d'abonnés. W.H. Gannett fonda ce magazine qui connut un succès phénoménal (1888-1942) pour promouvoir Giant Oxien, un tonique patenté pour les nerfs de dames. Comfort faisait partie de nombreux magazines imprimés

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à Augusta de 1869 à 1942, une période pendant laquelle Augusta était appelée « la capitale des catalogues de vente par correspondance » aux Etats-Unis. La distribution globale atteignit presque trois millions d'exemplaires à son apogée. Comfort permettait aux femmes rurales de se procurer des marchandises inaccessibles sans cela, et la circulation était élevée car elles avaient droit à des primes en recrutant de nouvelles abonnées. La maison d'édition Gannett résida longtemps au 20-26 de la rue Willow. Dans les années 1980, les anciens bâtiments furent rasés pour faire place à de nouvelles habitations.
 
Erected by The Museum in the Streets. (Marker Number 9.)
 
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Women. In addition, it is included in the The Museum in the Streets: Augusta, Maine series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1895.
 
Location. 44° 19.042′ N, 69° 46.236′ W. Marker is in Augusta, Maine, in Kennebec County. It is on Willow Street north of Cony Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., July 30, 2017

2. Comfort Magazine / Le Magazine Comfort Marker

Marker is at or near this postal address: 21 Willow St, Augusta ME 04330, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Maine’s Kennebec Valley. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Sousa the nonpariel / L'incomparable Souza (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); First Kennebec Bridge / Le premier pont du Kennebec (about 300 feet away); Old Fort Western / Le vieux Fort Western (about 400 feet away); Birds and Fish of the Kennebec (about 400 feet away); A Tribute to a Memorable Day / Un Anniversaire Mémorable (about 500 feet away); Augusta, Maine (about 600 feet away); Gunshots Reverberate on the Kennebec / Des coups de fusil résonnent sur le fleuve Kennebec (about 600 feet away); Riverside: Temple of Peace / Le Temple de la Paix (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Augusta.
 
Another marker is no longer nearby. Majestic House / Une demeure

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majestueuse (was about 700 feet away but has been confirmed missing).
 
Also see . . .
1. "Comfort Magazine," in Colby Quarterly (Weber, 1955). (Submitted on December 10, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. The Museum in the Streets Tour Map, Augusta, Maine. (Submitted on December 10, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
 
Additional keywords. Comfort Magazine / Le Magazine Comfort

 

 
Credits. This page was last revised on February 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on December 10, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 703 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on December 10, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.